Spacer for the sides of movingpicture reels



June 6 i939 N. GOLDBERG 2,161,157

SPACER FOR THE SIDES OF MOVING-PICTURE REELS Filed June 18, 1938Jlzzban, fold/fiery.

54 WWW CH /MM grime/WM v Patented June 6, 1939 UNITED STATES SPACER FORTHE SIDES F MOVING- PICTURE REE-LS Nathan Goldberg, Denve gcolo. IApplication June 18, 1938, s rialize. 214,427

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in moving picture film reels andhas reference more particularly to means for holding the sides in afixed, spaced relation. during the handling of 5 the film.

Films for use by moving picture theaters must be shipped from place toplace at frequent intervals and are usually wound on the ordinary .reelsused during exhibition, and are then enclosed in strong shipping cases.In most instances, two or more reels are enclosed in each case and, dueto shocks received during handling, the sides of the reel are sometimesmoved together with suflicient force to injure the edges of the film.

It is the object of this invention to produce a spacer device that canquickly be applied to and removed from a reel and which, when in place,will interconnect the peripherial edges of the sides in such a way thatthey are held from relative movement towards or away from each other.

' The invention, briefly described, consists of a strip of metal of alength approximately equal to the circumference of the reel to which itis to be attached. The strip is provided with parallel grooves, spacedapart a distance equal to the distance between the sides of the reel.The strip is curved into approximately circular form, with the grooveson the inside and the ends are connected by some suitable means thatholds the strip firmly against the peripherial edges of the reel, whichare positioned in the grooves.

Having thus briefly described the invention, the same will now bedescribed in greater detail, and for this purpose reference will be hadto the accompanying drawing in which the invention has been illustratedand in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of a moving picture reel, showing thespacer in place thereon;

Figure 2 is an edge view and shows the latch 0 device in operativeposition;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the latch, showing the same in openposition, and

Figure 4 is a section taken on line 4-4, Figure 2.

In the drawing reference numerals 5 designate the sides of an ordinarymoving picture film reel and 6 the peripherial edges of the circularsides. The reel is, of course, provided with a hub on which the film iswound, but which has not been 50 shown in the drawing.

The sides 5 are made from metal and are flexible so that when the reelis empty the sides may be moved towards each other by the application ofa moderate force. When a reel is full of film 5Q it is quite heavy. Inthe winding the film layers are slightly offset and the edges of thefilm therefore do not present smooth even surfaces. When the sides of areel are pressed together, the edges of the film are frequently crushedand broken so as to greatly injure the film.

It is evident that if a spacer is provided that prevents thesides of thefilm reel from moving towards each other, the ordinary forces to whichthe reel is subjected during handling will not be suflicient to bend thesides sufficiently to injure the film.

The device for spacing the sides, which forms the subject of thisinvention, consists of a metal strip or band 1 whose edges are providedwith parallel grooves 8 spaced apart so as to receive the rolledperipherial edges 6 of the reel sides, in the manner shown in Fig. 4:.It will, be noted that the beads or grooves 8 have their centers outsideof the outer surface of the band, a distance designated by numeral 9 inFig. 4; this serves to give the band greater rigidity and to provideshoulders ID that extend for an appreciable distance into the reel. Thestrip with its grooved edges is bent into substantially circular formwith the grooves opening on the concave side. 25

In order to attach the spacer to a reel it is necessary to provide somesuitable means for moving the ends of the band towards each other so asto tighten the band onto the reel and to latch or interlock the ends ofthe band so that it will remain in position during handling. In Figs. 2and 3, a latching device has been illustrated in which a lever II hasone end attached to one end of the band by a. hinge comprising memberI2. A link l3 has one end connected to the other end of the band by apivotal connection comprising member l4 and its other end connected withlever I l by a pivotal connection comprising member l5. The openingdesignated by numeral I6 is of suificient length to receive the 40 hingeI! when the latch is closed, as shown in Fig. 2. It will be observedthat lever I] and link l3 are both curved longitudinally so: as to fitthe curved band when the latter is in place.

After the film has been wound on the reel and a band applied to keep itfrom unwinding, the spacer is applied. When the latch is moved to openposition (Fig. 3) it separates the ends of band H and holds it openwhile it is put into position on the reel. When the band has beenpositioned on the reel, lever II is moved towards the position shown inFig. 2, which movement contacts the band. The length of the band and thelatching elements are so proportioned that when the parts are in theposition shown in Fig. 755

2, the band will be under some tension and the band will therefore besecured tightly to the reel.

Lever II and link l3 form a toggle device of such design that it willremain latched, due to the fact that a line joining the pivots of hingesI4 and I5 will pass inside of the pivot o! hinge l1, all as shown inFig. 1.

The latching device illustrated may be replaced by some other suitablemeans, if desired, but has been found to be very satisfactory as it iseasily operated and will retain the band under tension.

When the spacer is in place the reel forms a closed container for thefilm and when the reel sides are provided with strengthening ribs l8,they will withstand a large amount of pressure without bending to anyappreciable extent.

Any number of reels of film can be shipped in a single case when thereels are provided with spacers as above described, as each reel becomesan independent container.

Although the specific construction illustrated on the drawing isbelieved to be the most suitable for the purpose, it is, of course,possible to get substantially the same results by specifically differentmeans which operate in substantially the same way.

Having described the invention what is claimed 1. In combination with amoving picture film reel having a hub and spaced circular sides, meansfor closing the space between the edges of the sides and for holding thesides in predetermined spaced relation, comprising, a strip of materialhaving spaced parallel grooves for the reception of the peripherialedges of the sides, and means for subjecting the strip to tension tourge it into operative engagement with the peripherial edges of thesides and for latching it in operative position, said means comprising alever pivoted at one end to the strip, near an end of the latter, and alink pivoted to the other end of the strip and to the lever whereby arocking of the lever about its pivot will vary the distance between theends of the strip.

2. A device for use with moving picture reels having a hub and twoconcentric, spaced, circular sides, comprising a metal strip of a widthslightly greater than the distance between the sides of the reel, theedges of the strip being formed into parallel grooves, spaced to receivethe edges of the sides, the grooves being of surficient depth to formstops for limiting the movement of the sides towards and away from eachother, and means for interconnecting the ends of the strip and tosubject the strip to tension whereby it will be urged into engagementwith the peripherial edges of the circular sides, said means comprisinga toggle device comp-rising, a lever pivoted at one end to the strip,near one end thereof, and a link having one end pivoted to the lever andthe other pivotally connected with the other end of the strip, thetoggle mechanism being arranged to move to overset position to effect alatching action.

NATHAN GOLDBERG.

